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Triplets stand proud in Air Force Cadets 75th year

They say twos a party and threes a crowd but that isn’t the case for the 17-year-old Pridmore triplets who are all proud members of 232 Squadron of the Australian Air Force Cadets.

It couldn’t be a better time for Justin, Kyle and Liam to be involved with the cadets, with 2016 marking the organisation’s 75th year of service.

Justin and Kyle recently completed the Cadet Sergeants Leadership course at the RAAF Base in Amberley, while Liam attended the Cadet under Officers Leadership course and now outranks his ‘older’ brothers.

Liam said the Air Force had allowed him to see the possibilities available to him in the future, with a career in engineering set firmly in his sights.

“We wanted to get involved after going to a careers open day at the school before we were old enough to join, we saw a few people walking around in uniform and wanted to do it,” Liam said.

“It was a coincidence that we all wanted to join; we just thought it was an awesome opportunity after hearing about what they did and its lived up to its expectations.”

The Australian Air Force Cadets has more than 8,000 active members Australia-wide and is sponsored by the Royal Australian Air Force.

Justin said while they were only in grade 6 when they went to the careers fair with their older sister, they knew it was always something they wanted to do.

“Before I joined cadets I didn’t know anything about planes and since I have joined I’ve learnt that I’d really like to become a pilot in the Air Force,” Justin said.

“If it weren’t for cadets I wouldn’t have a love for aviation.”

Kyle said the boys joined in 2012 when they were just 13 and he flew his first plane in the same year.

“The Air Force has taught me a lot of mateship and self-discipline,” Kyle said.

“We’ve learnt to survive on our own and it’s given us a lot of knowledge of the military.”

At the recent launch of the 75th anniversary year celebrations in Canberra addressing a group of 200 cadets, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove said that it would be hard to imagine an organisation more exciting to be a part of than the Air Force Cadets.

“No matter what pathway you choose, whether it is perhaps to the Services or wider community career options, you will look back and think that these have been some of the best days of your lives,” he said.

“And whatever it is you choose to do in the future, this time in the Air Force Cadets is giving you the most wonderful start in your life.”

The Cadets story began in 1941 addressing the needs of war, but it has become an aviation-focused youth development organisation.

To mark the 75 years of service, official cadets historian Matthew Glozier has prepared an Air Force Cadets history book. It is now available from www.lulu.com.